Weber’s Guide to GHS Labeling Get the answers to your GHS questions!

Chemical labeling requirements are changing.

Make sure your company is ready.

• Today’s HCS Requirements

• The basics of GHS labeling

• Who does this affect?

• What does Weber recommend?

• Advice for HazComm labeling

• Application Checklist

• Weber Label Solutions

Today’s HCS requirement.The old Hazard Communication System (HCS) stipulated you must have 3 items on labels of hazardous chemicals that would be used in the workplace:

1. Chemical Name2. Hazard Statement3. Company Information

Additionally, the old law requires manufacturers and dis-tributors to create Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).

These provide hazard information in high detail, includ-ing the concentration of hazardous chemicals present in the product. These sheets are to be kept on site by the users of the chemicals in case of emergency.

The HCS has been said to give workers the “right to know.”

The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, a communication system used widely around the world, is aligned with the new HCS.

In addition to the 3 previous requirements, there are 3 new requirements:

1. Signal Words2. Precautionary Statements3. Pictograms

Also, the MSDS is now called the Safety Data Sheet (SDS), and now includes pictograms.

This new version of the HCS is said to give workers the “right to understand.”

The Basics of GHS Labeling

Who does this affect?All manufacturers, distributors and users of chemicals in the workplace must comply with this new regulation.

There may be a lot of new information that needs to go on the labels; however, since many companies use the HMIS system as a best practice, they are used to lots of info on their labels. Now the precautionary statements and hazard statements will be standardized in every workplace.

The biggest change that affects everyone, though, is that now these pictograms will become part of their variable information. These pictograms will include red diamonds which companies have never needed to print in an on-demand format previously.

Is there a difference if I am a chemical company or just a company that uses chemicals?

Companies that manufacture and distribute chemicals must begin using the new labeling June 1st, 2015.

Those companies that use hazardous chemicals in their day-to-day operations, such as a machine shop or a print-ing company, will have until June 1st, 2016 to update their workplace labeling.

More information on the rules and regulations of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Label-ing of Chemicals can be found here at the Department of Labor OSHA site.

What is Weber’s solution to help with compliance?

After reviewing our customer base in the petrochemi-cal industry, we really like a technology from Epson. It is a great fit for a large number of these customers and we encourage them to explore it. There are two print sys-tems, and both of them are designed for long-term indus-trial use.

The Epson GP-C831Inkjet Label Printer

The printer system allows you to variably print in color; and it allows you to do it in an efficient way. You can work from blank label stocks, so it allows you to easily manage label formats with the end product being a very present-able label, which enhances brand image.

Being compliant means only that you have the re-quired information on your labels. But most manufac-turers and distributors need some element of durability. The pigmented inks in this system show remarkable durability for the price. They are better than UV flexo inks typically found on chemical drum labels. The refills for

Learn more about this printer

Learn more about this printer

each of the CMY colors are $17.50. The larger black refills, which hold 3 times the amount of ink as the other colors, are only $53.00.

The printer itself is in the realm of affordability; less than half the cost of a wide-web thermal transfer printer (un-der $2,000 vs. $5,000). It comes with an optional SITA (Spare In The Air) program to ensure downtime is mini-mized.

Epson C3500 Inkjet Label Printer

The C3500 printer uses the same type of print technol-ogy and ink as the C831, but it comes in a smaller pack-age. This has a maximum media width of only 4.125” so it lends itself ideally to small container labeling. We see this as a great fit for workplace labeling.

Like the C831, it gives you flexibility to design and print multiple label formats, all from blank labels. It has a com-partment to print from 4.0” OD roll, but it can also accept externally placed media through a slot in the back.

The 3500 uses similar ink cartridges as the 831, but the black cartridge is the same size as the other three colors, in this case.

Color Inkjet Printing

Inkjet technology has greatly improved over the last several years. Inkjet printing is making its way into busi-nesses by giving them color on demand at increasingly greater print resolutions, higher speeds and lower costs.

Color Inkjet offers the same flexibility as Color Laser in label design, lead-time and savings on blank label con-sumables.

A majority of inkjet systems use dye-based inks, which are not durable enough for chemical labeling, given the in-dustry’s typical outdoor storage/transportation and expo-sure to harsh chemicals. For chemical applications, look for pigmented inks, which have much better durability than dye-based inks. Additionally, there are few systems that will handle 8” wide drum labels, but they are avail-able and should be of great interest to labelers of large containers like steel and plastic drums and intermediate bulk containers.

Inkjet systems lack the speed of modern thermal transfer and laser printers, but the lower cost should allow a label-er to deploy multiple printers for the price of one stan-dard thermal transfer printer or high-speed laser printer.

Advice about HazComm complianceStart with the SDS

Likely, the most difficult part of this process will be to get chemicals reclassified under the new system, and revise the MSDS to SDS. Most will go through a 3rd party to get this done. However, once that part is completed, you have all the information you need to create compliant labels.

To get started with labels, look at the SDS’s involved. Here you’ll have an understanding of the variability of picto-grams required. This will help you narrow down the type of print system you’ll need. For instance, if your labels will only require one pictogram, you can easily handle that with revised preprinted labels to be used with your exist-ing thermal transfer print system.

Look at your application requirements4 How many label sizes do you need? This will ultimately affect the overall media costs for the printer.

4 What are the label sizes?Some printers that are great for GHS compliance may only print up to a certain width, such as 4” or 6.5”. These will not be options when printing 8.5” x 14” labels.

4 What level of durability is required?Make sure that both the label material and printer ink are durable enough for the lifetime of the label, and meet any applicable standards, such as BS5609 for IMDG labeling.

4 Will labels be hand-applied or auto-applied?Going to auto-apply may require roll-to-roll unwind sys-tems for some printers

What is a BS:5609 label? It is the internationally recognized standard for the durability of a label used on containers that are shipped by sea. This is especially important for labels applied to drums of chemicals that require IMDG certification, the international guideline to the safe shipment of dangerous goods or hazardous materials by water vessel.

Container TypeRecommended

Printer

Intermediate Bulk Container

Epson C831

HDPE Drum Epson C831

Steel Drum Epson C831

Fiber Drum Epson C831

HDPE Pails Epson C831

Container TypeRecommended

Printer

Steel Pails Epson C831

HDPE Jugs Epson C831

HDPE JarsEpson C831, Epson C3500

LDPE Wash Bottles

Epson C3500

LDPE Dispensing Bottles

Epson C3500

Glass Bottles & Vials

Epson C3500

Which inkjet printer will work best to print labels for my chemical container?

Look at the big picture4 What will the total system cost?Look at the costs of the printer(s), labels and inks

4 MaintenanceHow much time will employees spend making repairs? How much does a service call for the new system com-pare to the old one?

4 Changeover Time & Ease of OperationHow long does it take to get the system up and running and replacing the media? What setup, if any, needs to be done in between print jobs?

4 Print SpeedsThe max speeds vary greatly between print systems. It affects throughput (labor overhead), image clarity, and image durability. Which speed do you need to print at to optimize all three?

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